Chapter 20: The Honeydew Meadow Massacre Part IV.

Chapter 20: The Honeydew Meadow Massacre Part IV.

Papa, wheres Lydia been? Lucy asked her father the next morning. Why aint she been around?

Billy Bumblebelly reached down and picked up his daughter and placed her on his knee, then gave her a kiss on the forehead and said: Well, sweetie, Ive been bumblin told that Miss Lydia just aint going to be coming around no more.

Oh, Papa! Why not? asked the surprised and now unhappy Lucy.

Well, princess, for reasons I cant say right now, Miss Lydia has moved on from this bumblin world. Shes eating sweetcakes with your mama and your big sister right now.

What? Why? Miss Lydia is dead?! cried Lucy.

Oh, Lucy, Lucy, dont you cry, sweetie pie! These things just happen. An its like they teach us in sermon school, the happy man in the sky loves us all and sometimes he loves us so much, he calls us early to his side. That happened with your ma an your sister, and now thats what happened to Miss Lydia. Theyre in a better place now, anyway. One where the sins of this unhappy world can no longer lay claim to them.

Really? asked Lucy.

Oh, honey, yes! Especially, Miss Lydia! Shell be as clean as sweet apple water, yes sir. She wont be making any mistakes in her future now, mmm hmm. Now, why dont you go play with your new friend Max?

Lucy grew quiet at the suggestion. Billy raised an eyebrow.

Now, whats with that bumblin face? Aint you and Max tighter than tied twine?

Papa, Max has been acting all weird. He goes out at night, and when he comes back, he wont say what hes been doing. Last night when I saw him, he was covered in blood

What? Bumblin blood! What sort of mischief has our new friend gotten involved in?

I dont know, Papa. Butsometimes he scares me.

Sweetie, I told you he was a magical axe. Magical things are a different kinda folk than the rest of us. Things you might find scary about him might just be his normal way of being himself. Dont be so quick to decide hes up to bad things"

Bad what now? asked Max as he came floating into the room.

Its nothing, Max, Billy said reassuringly. Lucy was just coming to me to express a little concern about some of your behavior, and I was just lettin her know that was just you following your way was all

Is that right, Lucy? Max asked. Is what your papa said true?

Yeah Lucy said quietly.

If you must know, Lucy, I like to go flying at night. I only recently learned the skill and if I want to improve at it, I have to practice. Also, there are some big owls around here, and I didn't like the way they'd circle around the house! So, I took care of them! You could have just asked me if you wanted to know. Because were friends, and friends dont keep secretsright?

Right, agreed Lucy reluctantly. But you wouldn't say what you were doing was all!

I kept it secret because I wanted to take you flying with me, Lucy! I wanted to take you far into the sky to see the world like an angel does! To dance among the clouds and drink fresh rainwater as it sprinkles down! Oh, it would have been so much fun! It would have been the experience of your life! But now, I just dont know. I mean whod want to spend any time with a Betty Blabbermouth?

I-Im not a blabbermouth, Lucy said tearfully.

Liar! Liar, liar, Lucy the liar! The very instant I did something you didnt like, you tried to snitch me out! Best friends are supposed to keep their secrets forever and never ever tell on each other! Youre a bad friend, Lucy!

N-no Im not!

Billy, did you knooow that Lucy wanted Lydia to disappear FOREVER? Her exact words were, I want her to go away forever! Did you know about that, Billy? And I cant help but notice that Lydia hasnt been on hand these last few days, hmmmm?

Max, thats tattling! shouted a now furious Lucy

Well, thats how it feels! See how you like it! Wait, what are you doing?

Lucy leapt from her fathers lap and gave Maxs handle a rough pinch!

Ow, you pinched me! Youre so mean! I hate you now! Max said.

Well, I bumblin hate you too! Lucy shouted.nove(l)bi(n.)com

Its too high from my room to jump. I need to get in the den and then out the front door, she decided. But how? The fire had started in the stairwell, and shed be roasted alive trying to do down that way. It was too dangerous!

But then she had an idea!

She raced to her room as quickly as she could, and with a strength born of desperation, she ripped her blankets and sheets off her bed, then quickly snatched her mattress off of the box spring. Then she pulled it over to the banister overlooking the den and threw it to the first floor. Then, after a few moments of hesitation, she climbed over the banister herself.

Please work, please work, please work! She squeaked to herself. Then she jumped!

The landing was not pleasant! But nothing seemed to be broken either. And with all the smoke swiftly stealing the air from her lungs, she had no time to complain about the pain! She was so close to safety!

Lucy quickly scurried over to the front door and grabbed the doorknob. Then she squealed in pain.

Oh hot, so hot, too hot! She couldnt get the door open! And now her paws had been blistered by the searing heat that had been absorbed by the brass knob. She was doomed! Oh, Pa, Im so bumblin sorry! she thought to herself as fresh tears began to run down her cheeks. I tried though; I really did!

Seeing that this was now the end, Lucy dropped to her knees and began to pray.

Oh, Happy man in the sky, please hear my humble plea! Wont you please guide my soul to paradise, that I might see my family once more? And once youve done so, wont you also strike down my hated enemies with many virulent diseases for which there is no cure? Let them choke on bloodied phlegm, as parasites feast on their sensitive organs! Let them know horror and sorrow in equal amounts but offer them no relief until their final agonized breaths! In your glorious name I pray, Amen!

That settled, Lucy prepared herself for death. But then the front door came smashing open! And who should her gallant rescuer be? Why none other than:

Constable Carrot! she gleefully exclaimed.

This way, Lucy! Lets get you outside! The constable shouted, quickly snatching her into his arms and bounding out of the burning home with Jackrabbit speed.

Are you okay, Lucy? Is there anyone else inside? he asked her a few moments later.

Im fine, Constable! Well, I burned my paws a little, but otherwise Im fine! But them bumblin Baddieburrs have gone poco loco! They got my Pa! Lucy said urgently.

The Baddieburrs? But why would they take your Pa? Carrot asked in confusion.

Oh, I wish I knew, Constable! Could this have anything to do with what happened to Miss Lydia? Lucy asked.

Wait, what? asked Constable Carrot. Lucy, how do you know about what happened to Lydia Whiskerwit? We havent shared that information with anyone but her family.

Well, my Pa told me! He told me all about it! Lucy said.

But that cant be! He shouldnt know a thing about itAHHH! What the?

Constable Carrot lurched to the ground, howling in pain as blood began spurting from his wounded side. From the shadows stepped his assailant. It was none other than Patrolman Pig, wearing a blank expression on his face while wielding his police issue Bee-Bee gun.

Pig? moaned Carrot. Pig, what have you done? You stung me!

Spose I did, Pig said evenly. Sorry about this, Carrot. I dont really care much for hoppers, but I really didnt mind you all that much. But if you keep digging at this patch, you might dig up some things best left buried, so off you go now.

Nonot like this Carrot said weakly. "Not like this..."

But it did end like that. With a stinger jutting from his forehead.

All right mouse, up you git, said Patrolman Pig, now pointing his weapon at Lucy. Lets go see how yer pa is doing.

__

Crack! went the whip as it struck Billy Bubblebelly down his back.

"You gonna' scream for me, boy? You gonna' beg mercy for what you done?" raged Horace Baddieburr.

Billy did not beg for mercy. But he did smile.

"Beg mercy for what, Horace? Iwelcome this," he said through a bleeding lunatic's grin.

Concluded next chapter.